Hollywood Celebs Cashing In On Charities (BARF Alert)

PABAAH: Patriotic Americans Boycotting Anti-American Hollywood ^

[jonalvy44]

When small charities have big dreams about fund-raising, they often set their sights on the stars -- Hollywood stars. The Evanston-based charity consulting firm, Alford Group, advises them to c'mon back to earth.

Celebs, even for good causes, "usually don't come for free,'' says Alford vice president Greg Simoncini.

Indeed they don't.

[jonalvy44]

Cosby was in line to get a $75,000 fee

Ray Charles getting $75,000

actress Camryn Manheim got a $24,000 Harley motorcycle to emcee an event

Dang, I'd emcee the event for a moped, LOL. Hollywood greed seems to know no bounds...I will watch my charitable giving more closely. Usually the Red Cross gets most of mine, anyway. Not the United Way, that's for sure.

[jonalvy44]

Hollyweird greed ping

[excalibur1701]

Wasn't the United Way the organization that withdrew funds for the Boyscouts? Someone refresh my memory. For some reason, that rings a bell.

[ClearCase_guy]

"I do lots of charity work! See this $24,000 motorcycle? Do you think I'm some kind of greedy, spoiled consumer, buying toys for myself?? No Sir!! I got that from Charity work, dammit! See that Olympic size swimming pool in my living room? You think I decided to make some blockbuster movie just so I had cash for swimming pool?? I'm not like that! My career decisions are NOT driven by money! I paid for that pool with money I earned from Charity work! Charity work is what I live for! I'm BETTER than you are!"

[GladesGuru]

You give money to the Red Cross??????

Those greedy, usless bachelor's children came to South Florida after Hurricane Andrew and were selling donuts to the survivors.

After that, there fund raising efforts in South Florida were a reflection of the deep love and respect of the citizens for all that ther Red Cross had done for them in the hour of their greatest need.

OK, I'll get off the soap box now.

But I won't give 'em a penny now or ever after their South Florida performance. Why? Here's an example. Within minutes of hearing about the storm (we're talking middle of the night) a Tampa area business owner called his drivers out of a sound sleep and had semi-trucks loaded with supplies and on their way before dawn. All at his own expense, too.

Still like the bureaucrats at the Red Cross? Large charities are like large government; fat, wasteful, unresponsive.

[international american]

Cosby needed that 75,000 to pay for the property taxes on one of his 4 homes:)

[N. Theknow]

Ray Charles getting $75,000

Probably put it into a blind trust.

[jonalvy44]

boooo....Should've seen that one coming, LOL

[HairOfTheDog]

I hate to build a reputation for defending celebrities.... but popular people charge fees to speak... Included in the article are former polititians and all kinds of professional speakers who make a living that way... Celebrities get invited to speak at lots of events.... they can choose to waive the fee for causes that are close to their heart, but other than that.... it is a business for hire. The charities are seeking out a big face and a name for their event, and if it pays, they pay it.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Yes. It was the UW that did that.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

If you want on/off this ping list, please FReepmail me.

It's so nice to know that some of your hard- earned money that you wanted to go to help the less fortunate is going to Hollywood idiots instead.

[jonalvy44]

Here in upstate NY they do a lot of good, helping flood victims, etc. They are the first responders...They don't seem to have the high overhead that United Way does.

[HairOfTheDog]

You know.... it is a common misconception of people who have never worked in charity organizations, but it takes money to make money.

When you go to a charity event, the meals, the speakers, the balloons, the hall, were all paid for. Hotels, caterers, and other suppliers of services are in the business to make money, and they are INUNDATED with requests to provide stuff for free, for school kids this week, for people with Cancer next week. They can't do it and stay in business, and we shouldn't expect them to.

Think about it. Popular faces like Cosby and even George Bush would have every charity on earth pounding at their door for every minute of their time if they didn't charge fees for their name. They may adopt many of these causes, but many they don't. They are a service for hire. As for their rates... that is what the market will bear. For an article to have a phrase in it like "line their pockets" with charity money smacks of Socialism. Who are we to limit what someone is 'worth' making? One example there was Gerald Ford.... he was paid $200,000 for an event that was 15% of the take at the event. Well worth the price to that organization.

People holding fundraising events decide how much they can spend and still hope to make a healthy profit for their work. There is a cost to fundraising.... and not many get by expecting everyone to donate their services so they can make money. There are too many 'causes' out there.

[Corin Stormhands]

You give money to the Red Cross??????

I spent some time working for the Salvation Army when I was in college (I still support them). I can't tell you how many WWII vets I had come up to me and thank me, then curse the Red Cross.

One guy told me he was in a military hospital, somewhere in Europe. Red Cross made him pay for the paper and envelope to write home.

I don't think they're all evil. And they do some good stuff. But, like any large bureaucracy, there's a lot of waste there.

[Corin Stormhands]

People holding fundraising events decide how much they can spend and still hope to make a healthy profit for their work.

Exactly, in the late 80s, I was the Board chair for an after school tutoring program in inner-city DC. We held a fund raising auction one year and raised about $1,000 which was a good event. The next year, people couldn't believe we spent $1,400 to rent a nicer location. But we made $10,000.

Some 15 years later, the event brings in about $60K annually. But they have to spend money to pay for the event.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

I'm sorry. I reject the notion that they should be paid. It is patently dishonest and blatantly unfair to those who give their time and their money, expecting nothing in return when some of their money goes to celebrities who make millions more a year. Frankly, if I give money, I want it to go to a single mom who can't feed her children through the end of the week, rather than supporting some leftist idiot who does nothing but criticize Bush.

[ladyinred]

I alway remember my Dad a WW2 vet telling us that after his ship was sank by the Japanese, he and the other survivors who were rescued out of the sea where charged for a cup of coffee at from the Red Cross. I will never give them one dime.

[ladyinred]

Oops, always! Not alway, like a poet!

[ecurbh]

Frankly, if I give money, I want it to go to a single mom who can't feed her children through the end of the week,

Go ahead and give it to her, then!

[HairOfTheDog]

I want it to go to a single mom who can't feed her children through the end of the week, rather than supporting some leftist idiot who does nothing but criticize Bush.

Chances are, you aren't on the donor invite lists for events that hire leftist idiots to criticise Bush. But if you want to make a donation today to someone who needs it, then look up an organization and give to them.... When they have to come looking for you, it costs money.

You can reject the notion that charities should pay for speakers, and you can reject the notion that celebrities should collect money. But charities can't exist unless they invest in fundraising. That is the fact ~THEY~ have to live with. It is all relative. Hold an event where you expect to net $5,000 and you can have a pretty small affair with no-name speakers. But hold an event where you expect to net a million or more, you better have a name that will attract that kind of money.

And you can decide that a celebrity makes too much money and should do stuff for free, even for organizations they have never heard of before who write to them asking them to speak... but that would make you a socialist.